A Hedonic Analysis of Cattle Prices in the Central Corridor of West Africa: Implications for Production and Marketing Decisions

Detailed weekly sales transactions data for the period January 2000-June 2001 from three frontier markets in the central corridor of West Africa were analyzed to identify the factors influencing short-run, intra-year cattle prices. The empirical results indicate that in addition to market location and seasonality of supply and sales, market participants show systemic preferences for specific cattle attributes (sex, weight, condition and finish) and are willing to pay premium prices consistent with their preferences. Communicating this information to producers can assist them to tailor their production and marketing decisions to meet market expectations and thereby improve their competitiveness, profitability and intra-regional livestock trade. Innovative policy and institutional approaches to improve market information dissemination and ease other constraints that tend to dampen supply response, even in the face of favorable prices, are discussed in the paper.livestock markets, hedonic price model, market information, West Africa, Livestock Production/Industries, C21, D4, Q13, Q17,

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of General Medical Practitioners In Port Harcourt Towards The Prevention Of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV.

Background: Pregnant women living with HIV infection are at risk of transmitting HIV to their babies. Most of this transmission occurs during labour and delivery and during breast feeding. About 45% of all deliveries are conducted in private clinics. This study aims to access the knowledge, attitude and practice of general medical practitioner in Port Harcourt toward the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out on two hundred and twenty four private medical practitioners in Port Harcourt. Data  management was carried out using ® SPSS 15 for windows statistical software.Results: Only 50% of respondents had read the national guideline on PMTCT while 48.2% had three or more sources of information on PMTCT. Majority of the respondents (95.5%) identified prevention of HIV in the pediatric age group as the primary aim of PMTCT. Labour was identified by 80%of respondents as the time of transmission of MTCT of HIV while 48.2% preferred a specialist unit for HIV positive pregnant women. Forty two percent would screen pregnant women without consent. About half (46.6%) do not offer antenatal or delivery services to HIV positive women. Of the doctors that offer those services 58.7% could name 2 or more drugs to prevent MTCT of HIV during pregnancy. Of the respondents, 74% would offer HIV positive women elective caesarean section. Most of the respondents (89.3%) agreed that their knowledge, attitude and practice of PMTCT was deficient and 90.1% were willing to attend an update course.Conclusion: The Private General Practitioners were not well informed on practical aspects of prevention of MTCT of HIV/AIDS. They showed a discriminatory attitude towards HIV positive pregnant women.Key words: Private Practitioners, HIV, PMTCT

Computer Self-Efficacy of Librarians and Users as Influencers of University Libraries’ Information System Security: Evidence from Nigeria

Librarians and their users interact with the library’s information systems for different reasons. The need to protect information and information systems from unauthorized access, modification, data loss and destruction by librarians has become topical in recent times, hence this study. Using survey research design of the correlation type, three University libraries in the South-western Nigeria were purposively selected. Structured questionnaires for 48 librarians and 44,508 registered library users were used. Proportionate stratified random sampling technique for library users with Undergraduates, post graduates and staff as the basis for stratification was used. Total enumeration was used to capture all the librarians, total of 845 (95%) for library users and 42 (88%) for librarians were successfully completed and used for the study. Findings revealed that the librarians and library users had high computer self-efficacy levels related to information system security. Furthermore, computer self-efficacy of librarians significantly influence information systems security (β = .61, t= 4.86, p.05). The study concludes that these two groups have a strong belief in their abilities to use computers effectively to impact on the information system. The librarians’ belief is in the positive; the users’ appears to be for negative reasons. The study recommends very high level of computer and other technologies efficacy for librarians, regular training and retraining while users should be re-orientated to the realities and benefits of secured information systems

Childhood suppurative otitis media in Abakaliki: Isolated microbes and in vitro antibiotic sensitivity pattern

Background: Suppurative otitis media (SOM) is the most common pediatric problem seen by otolaryngologists in Nigeria. Devising simple and effective ways of treating pediatric patients with suppurating ears, especially in situations without a specialist care, will help prevent chronicity. Our experience with SOM at the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH), Abakaliki, is reviewed in this study. It may serve as a guide in patient care.Objective: Determine the bacteriology of SOM in children in Abakaliki and ascertain their sensitivity to common antibiotics.Materials and Methods: A 2-year retrospective analysis of ear swabs culture results and case files of children aged 0-18 years with SOM managed in EBSUTH.Results: Sixty-five patients with discharging ears were reviewed. Of these, 73% were ≤5 years, of which 41.5% were infants. About 83% had unilateral ear discharge. Acute suppuration was seen in 67%. Overall swab yield was 87.7%; Pseudomonas was (57.4%), Klebsiella (16.4%), and Proteus species (11.5%). Ciprofloxacin showed 60% sensitivity, Gentamicin (58%), and Ceftazidime (35%). Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, and cefuroxime showed sensitivity of 4.3%-9.7%.Conclusions: Treatment protocols of SOM in children should emphasize the use of Ciprofloxacin or Gentamicin, especially in situations with limited access to laboratory services or specialist care